Where and how to organise a corporate event in the Var

Why organise an event in the Var?

For a company based in Toulon, La Seyne, Hyères or the Signes business area, holding the event locally saves everyone an hour on the road. For a Marseille company, the Var is a seminar destination on the doorstep: you leave the city without organising a trip. The département’s main strengths for a corporate event:

• The sea, less urban than in Marseille: beaches, coves and fishing harbours all along the coast.
• The vineyards: the Bandol appellation and the estates of the hinterland lend themselves to seminars and summer evenings.
• The islands: Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant, departing from Hyères, for a one-day incentive trip.
• Wide open spaces: around Le Castellet, for events that need room or the outdoors.

Which areas of the Var suit which event?

We do not publish capacities for venues in the Var until we have checked them: each estate or restaurant will give you its capacities according to the layout (cocktail reception, seated dinner, theatre).

Toulon: what constraints are specific to the city?

Toulon is France’s leading naval port. The naval base has practical consequences for an event: some areas of the port are off limits, and drone flights are tightly regulated around military installations. If you are planning aerial shots, check feasibility well in advance.

For afterwork drinks or an evening in town, the old centre and the harbour quays are packed with restaurants and terraces available for private hire, a few minutes’ walk from the station. Le Mourillon, with its beaches and its fort, offers a more seaside feel for a summer evening.

For a trip out on the harbour, the port’s shuttle and cruise companies offer private charters; as in Marseille, the wind has the final say. Our article on the corporate boat party details the points to watch, which apply just as much in the Toulon harbour.

How do you manage the logistics from Marseille?

Many events in the Var bring together participants from Marseille and Aix. A few simple rules avoid unpleasant surprises:

1. Plan for the road: the A50 between Marseille and Toulon is busy at rush hour and on summer weekends. Push back the start time rather than see half your guests arrive late.
2. Think of the train: TER regional trains link Marseille Saint-Charles to Toulon, stopping at Cassis, La Ciotat, Bandol and Sanary-Ollioules.
3. Plan the journey home: for an evening event, a coach shuttle or on-site accommodation is a must as soon as alcohol is served.
4. Group your suppliers: every supplier coming from far away charges for travel. A single point of contact for music, bar, photography and technical equipment keeps these costs down.

Var or Marseille suppliers: how do you choose?

The question often comes up, and there is no wrong answer. A supplier based in Toulon knows the venues of the département and does not charge for travel. A Marseille supplier sometimes brings a wider offer, especially when it brings several trades together under one roof. To decide, compare three things:

• The total cost, travel included: for a one-evening event, a few dozen kilometres weigh little against the price difference between two services.
• The number of contacts: a DJ, a bartender, a photographer and a technician from four different companies means four quotes, four invoices and four arrival times to coordinate.
• Knowledge of the venue: ask whether the supplier has worked there before. If not, a technical visit or a conversation with the venue’s technical manager is essential.

In every case, have the quote specify the teams’ arrival time, the set-up time and any accommodation costs if the evening finishes late.

What programme works for a corporate day in the Var?

An example of a team-building day departing from Marseille, combining sea and vineyards:

• Morning: departure by coach, working meeting at an estate near Le Castellet.
• Midday: lunch among the vines.
• Afternoon: company olympics in the grounds or a cocktail workshop in the shade.
• Evening: dinner on the harbour in Bandol or Sanary, with a saxophonist then a DJ, and return by coach.

As for budget, the Marseille benchmarks (€65 to €130 per person for a complete evening) remain relevant in the Var; you need to add guest transport and supplier travel.